ams@hou4b.UUCP (08/09/84)
I have a question about the relative efficiency of Air Conditioning and keeping the window open. I am not interested in gas mileage, but rather in maximizing engine power and not boiling over. I have a 1981 Pontiac T-1000 (Chevette) with 1.6liter 4-cylinder engine and air conditioning. When I normally drive, I have the driver's side window open about 1-2 inches and the econo-vent on. I like to drive fairly fast (60-70mph) but often do not get power for hills, etc. Would I get more power with the window closed and the AC on? Would the engine be more likely to boil over during a 1-hour drive? (I wouldn't mind being able to do 75-80 with the AC going, but suspect I would need a better car for that....) Andrew Shaw AT&TISL 834-4085 HO 1C-412A houx[a-z]!hou4b!ams P.S. Keeping the window closed and the AC off is obviously not an option.
heneghan@ihuxa.UUCP (Joe Heneghan) (08/10/84)
I have an 81' Skylark w/A.C. and I trailer a sailboat. I follow these conventions: 1. When traveling less than 30 mph the windows stay open unless it's blazing hot where I can justify comfort over mileage. 2. When traveling over 30 mph the windows stay close and I vent and if it's hot enough, the A.C. goes on. 3. When driving in a traffic jam I keep the A.C. off unless I can maintain a constant speed. 4. When I need pick-up the A.C. goes off because it robs horsepower since the clutch in the compressor motor is engaged and the engine has to work harder to move it. 5. At high speeds I keep a high speed on the flats to power me through the climbs.
ark@rabbit.UUCP (Andrew Koenig) (08/10/84)
My car (a TR7) has a device that automatically cuts off the air conditioning when I floor the accelerator. I expect that such interconnections are not uncommon.